Integrated bypass diode schemes for solar modules

Abstract

Hybrid solar cell plates with integrated bypass diodes and modules thereof are described. In an embodiment, a hybrid solar cell plate includes a step surface including a floor and a step edge extending from the floor and across a thickness of a top subcell. A bypass diode is over the floor and laterally adjacent to the step edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a bottom electrode layer 
 a top transparent electrode layer; and 
 a top subcell between the bottom electrode layer and the top transparent electrode layer, the top subcell including:
 a first bottom junction layer of a first carrier type; 
 a first top junction layer of a second carrier type opposite the first carrier type; 
 
 a step surface including a floor and a step edge extending from the floor and across a thickness of the top subcell; 
 a bypass diode over the floor and laterally adjacent to the step edge; and 
 a patterned metal layer directly on the top transparent electrode layer and spanning over the top transparent electrode layer and the bypass diode. 
 
     
     
       2. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the step surface is part of a trench within the top subcell, and the bypass diode is within the trench. 
     
     
       3. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the step surface is a ledge. 
     
     
       4. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom electrode layer spans underneath the bypass diode. 
     
     
       5. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the patterned metal layer includes a plurality of metal finger electrodes spanning over the top subcell. 
     
     
       6. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 5 , wherein the patterned metal layer includes a metal busbar substantially located over the floor. 
     
     
       7. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulator material that fills a gap laterally between the bypass diode and the top subcell. 
     
     
       8. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step edge is adjacent to and parallel to a peripheral edge of the hybrid solar cell plate; 
 the top subcell is a portion of an only solar cell of the hybrid solar cell plate; and 
 the bypass diode is an only bypass diode of the hybrid solar cell plate. 
 
     
     
       9. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom subcell comprising:
 a second bottom junction layer of the first carrier type; and 
 a second top junction layer of the second carrier type opposite the first carrier type. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the step edge extends across a thickness of the second top junction layer; and 
 the bypass diode is formed on top of the second bottom junction layer. 
 
     
     
       11. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the second bottom junction layer is p-doped silicon; 
 the first bottom junction layer is a hole transport layer; 
 the first top junction layer is an electron transport layer; and 
 further comprising a perovskite absorber layer between the first bottom junction layer and the first top junction layer. 
 
     
     
       12. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the second bottom junction layer is n-doped silicon; 
 the first bottom junction layer is an electron transport layer; 
 the first top junction layer is a hole transport layer; and 
 further comprising a perovskite absorber layer between the first bottom junction layer and the first top junction layer. 
 
     
     
       13. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 9 , wherein the bypass diode is on top of the second top junction layer. 
     
     
       14. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 13 , wherein the second bottom junction layer is p-doped silicon. 
     
     
       15. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 13 , wherein the second bottom junction layer is n-doped silicon. 
     
     
       16. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the step edge extends across a thickness of the first bottom junction layer and the first top junction layer. 
     
     
       17. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 1 , wherein the step edge extends across a thickness of the first top junction layer, and the floor spans over the first bottom junction layer. 
     
     
       18. The hybrid solar cell plate of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the second bottom junction layer is n-doped silicon; 
 the first bottom junction layer is an electron transport layer; 
 the first top junction layer is a hole transport layer; and 
 further comprising a perovskite absorber layer between the first bottom junction layer and the first top junction layer. 
 
     
     
       19. A solar module comprising:
 a first hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a first bottom electrode layer; 
 a first top transparent electrode layer; 
 a first top subcell between the first bottom electrode layer and the first top transparent electrode layer, the first top subcell including a first bottom junction layer of a first carrier type and a first top junction layer of a second carrier type opposite of the first carrier type; 
 a first step surface including a first floor and a first step edge extending from the first floor across a first thickness of the first top subcell; 
 a first bypass diode over the first floor and laterally adjacent to the first step edge; and 
 a first patterned metal layer directly on the first top transparent electrode layer and spanning over the first top transparent electrode layer and the first bypass diode, the first patterned metal layer including a first plurality of metal finger electrodes spanning over the first top subcell, and a first metal busbar over the first bypass diode; 
 
 a second hybrid solar cell plate comprising:
 a second bottom electrode layer; 
 a second top transparent electrode layer; 
 a second top subcell between the second bottom electrode layer and the second top transparent electrode layer, the second top subcell including a second bottom junction layer of the first carrier type and a second top junction layer of the second carrier type opposite of the first carrier type; 
 a second step surface including a second floor and a second step edge extending from the second floor across a second thickness of the second top subcell; 
 a second bypass diode over the first floor and laterally adjacent to the second step edge; and 
 a second patterned metal layer directly on the second top transparent electrode layer and spanning over the second top transparent electrode layer and the second bypass diode, the second patterned metal layer including a second plurality of metal finger electrodes spanning over the second top subcell, and a second metal busbar over the second bypass diode; 
 
 wherein the first metal busbar is connected to the second bottom electrode layer. 
 
     
     
       20. The solar module of  claim 19 , wherein the first metal busbar is connected to the second bottom electrode layer with a ribbon or wiring. 
     
     
       21. The solar module of  claim 19 , wherein the first metal busbar is connected to the second bottom electrode layer with a conductive film, conductive paste, or solder.